'Ello, 'ello, 'ello! Chapter nine! Yes, most of the chapter relates to the party, but also introduces bad guys. (makes frightened face) OH NO! BAD GUYS!

No name: I'm glad that you think it's interesting! It was tricky for a way for me to find a way to put 'me' in a story, but it just CLICKED! Hmm...maybe Ike will have a bigger part in the story or not...guess you'll just have to find out. ;-)

Chef Colette: Whoo! Boyd rules! There's another person for the party! ;-) Everyone's gotta love Boyd. He's my comedy relief in parts. Traitor? Harming Sanaki? (whistles and looks away) I have nooo idea what you're talking about! =-D Thank you, as always, for your encouraging reviews!

Disclaimer: I do not own Fire Emblem! If I did, do you think I would be sitting in a freezing cold room during summer writing fanfiction?! Well...maybe I would be...

XxXxXxX

Chapter 9

Well, it's now a few hours before the party and I'm having to start getting ready. Ginia and a few other hawks and ravens got my dress made rather quickly. It's a dark blue, and when it gets down to the bottom – which is at my ankles – it becomes a lighter blue. I suppose it's a little plain – it's strapless, but it has a silver wrap which goes around my chest, has a tiny spot in the front where it ties together to cover only the edge of my shoulders and it falls only a couple inches above my elbows. Then, Ginia insisted that I wear something to cover my arms, so she found some silver (it was miraculously about the same color as the small wrap) gloves which reached up to my elbows. I still wore my original sandles and kept Ranulf's necklace on. Ginia left my hair alone after making several attempts to doing something with it.

Needless to say, I would feel out of place at this party. Vlas and Ranulf both told me that it was only the hosts in laguz culture that needed to dress up. But, if I was lucky, maybe the beorc going didn't know about that custom...

Hmm. Something to look forward to. Maybe...

XxXxXxX

Ginia inquired, putting finishing touches on Mihara, "Who gave you that necklace, Lady Mihara?"

"Umm...Ranulf did."

Ginia paused in what she was doing. Then, at Mihara's reflection in the mirror, she gave her an innocent smile and a raised eyebrow of intrigue. Mihara blushed lightly. She voiced her thoughts. "Ginia, are you playing matchmaker?"

"Me, milady? Never," she insisted, the smile not fading.

"Yeah, for some reason, I seriously doubt that."

Ginia giggled as if to prove her innocence.

Mihara looked at Ginia's reflection with curiosity. "Will there be music?"

The raven scoffed lightly. "Well, of course! How else would there be dancing?"

I suppose that would make sense. Practically every culture in every world has music involved... I wonder what kinds of instruments they'll have...

"And maybe Sir Ranulf will ask you to dance in front of everybody."

Mihara then asked slyly, "Giniiiaaa, do you have someone you like?"

Even though the knock on Mihara's door saved Ginia from answering the question, Mihara smirked, having seen the red come to Ginia's tanned face. Tibarn stood outside the door. "Are you ready, Mihara?"

"Not really, if you want the honest answer. But, I suppose I'll have to deal with this..." Mihara stood up, facing her father. "How many people are here?"

After a hesitation, Tibarn answered, "Not that many."

Why do I have the feeling that it's going to be a lot? Mihara moaned silently. She watched Giniawalk off before them in the direction of the large courtyard. Mihara examined her father's wardrobe. He had his headband off, only a few strands of his hair hanging in his face. His usual long green coat-like shirt was replaced with a non-torn silver coat-like shirt. The wrappings around his arms and hands were taken off and black fingerless gloves were in their place. He still wore his same boots and white leg coverings. Covering the Hawk King's muscles was a black undershirt, the king still having his large belt around his waist.

Mihara did not even notice that they were already at the main castle doors. She sighed quietly, her heart pounding at the thought of being in front of all those visitors. Tibarn took a moment to say, "Uh- you look lovely, Mihara."

"Thank you. Um, so do you." Well, I know that this is a little tricky for him, but he's trying. I suppose this little dance is the least I can do for him.

"Thanks... So...I suppose we should go ahead out?"

"Yeah..."

Tibarn offered an arm to Mihara. She accepted it after a moment, and the two walked out. It wasn't exactly like Mihara imagined – there was no announcment of their arrival, no loud banging to bring everyone's attention up – they just walked out, all heads turning towards them. Mihara's eye twitched at the sight of all the laguz and beorc in the crowd. She didn't know how Tibarn acted like no one was there! Mihara avoided eye contact with as many people as possible. She heard faint whispers from the people nearby, but couldn't make out anything they were saying. She picked out a few faces that she knew from the game: Empress Sanaki, Sigrun, Geoffrey, Nailah- Wait, what?! Mihara resisted the urge to turn around and see if she saw who she thought she saw. Was that Naesala?

Mihara did not yet see the laguz or beorc who would be playing the music as she and Tibarn prepared for the waltz. I'm gonna kill someone after this is done...I really am, I swear... Mihara thought darkly.

She suddenly heard sweet music begin playing that sounded suspiciously like a violin and cello. Before she could ponder too much on it, Tibarn began the dance. Mihara thought through the steps she did with Ranulf, smiling inwardly that she hadn't stepped on Tibarn yet. She had stepped on Ranulf...more than once. Or twice.

Mihara became so involved in the dance that she didn't even see the pairs of people join the two in the dance. Only when she brushed off someone's side did she realize it. She saw that the courtyard – with was alight with dancing flames from fires and torches – was full of dancing couples and friends. Once, Mihara thought she spotted Ginia dancing with someone, but she wasn't too positive. Tibarn whispered to her, "See? This isn't so bad."

"It's bad enough," Mihara returned with a slight playful smile.

Tibarn chuckled. "Don't worry. This is the only dance you'll have to do, if you want."

"Thank goodness."

Sooner than she almost wanted, the dance ended, and Mihara curtsied her father. She gave him a smile and the two left the circle for dancing. Tibarn said, "I'll probably be busy talking with people most of the time, just to let you know."

"Okay. Maybe I'll go find Leanne – or did she not come?"

"No, she's here." Tibarn glanced around. Then, he nodded in a general direction. "She's over there, with Reyson, Rafiel, and some others."

"Okay. I'll go talk with her."

"Alright. Despite the dancing," he smirked, "I hope you'll enjoy the evening."

"I will," Mihara assured.

Without another word, the two went separate ways. She made her way through the crowd, saying hello to some people as they greeted her. At last, Mihara spotted three pairs of white wings. She went towards them. She came to Reyson. He turned and gave her a friendly smile. "Good evening, Mihara."

"Hi, Reyson. I came over to speak with Leanne. This crowd intimidates me." Mihara glanced around, as if to make her point known that there were too many people.

"There are a lot of people," Reyson agreed. "I was just about to go for some fresh air. May I accompany you and Leanne?"

"Sure."

Reyson turned to his sister and spoke to her in the ancient language. Leanne leaned around her brother and smiled at Mihara. "Hello...Mihara."

"Hi, Leanne. Want to go talk?"

Leanne nodded – almost gratefully, it looked like to Mihara. The three birds made their way away from the crowd, seeing a few other people standing distances away from each other. Mihara saw Ranulf among them, speaking with a pink headed lady, holding something, a very large redheaded man, and a white-haired man. Mihara blinked, looking at them. She turned to the heron siblings. "Is that...Ena?"

Reyson looked to where she had looked and his eyes widened slightly before nodding. "I'm surprised any dragons came. That is Gareth and Nasir beside Ena."

Leanne turned to the two. "Let's go see them."

Reyson and Mihara nodded to say 'sure'. Leanne led them over to the dragons and the cat warrior of Gallia. Ranulf caught sight of them. "Hey, Prince Reyson, Princess Leanne! Lady Mihara, nice waltzing," he added smugly.

Mihara glared at him as Reyson and Leanne greeted their friends. Then, she turned to Ena. She saw the little bundle with wide red eyes in her arms. Mihara smiled warmly at the baby. Ranulf introduced them all to each other. "You guys, this is Mihara. Mihara, this is Gareth, Nasir, Ena, and Ena's newborn, Rajaion."

They exchanged greetings politely. Mihara looked back at Rajaion. "He's adorable."

"Thank you." Ena looked down at Rajaion, who was eyeing Mihara. "Say 'hi', Rajaion!"

The baby dragon looked back and forth between his mother and the hawk. He blinked at Mihara before smiling and gurgling with a wide smile. Mihara smiled back at him. "Hi, Rajaion!"

Ranulf returned to his and the dragons' previous conversation. "So, King Kurthnaga let you bring him? That's a shock."

"Oh, it took some convincing, but he gave in. I think Rajaion gave him the big eyes." Ena held her baby up in the air. "Didn't you, sweetie?"

"Apparantly, he took us extremely serious when we told him that we wouldn't leave their sides even to get a drink," Nasir mumbled. "But it's okay, because he's more imporant."

"We managed to convince him that Altiaire was the safest country at the moment because of these rebellions within Begnion and Daein," Gareth added.

Leanne asked Ena slowly, "May I...hold...him?"

"Of course, Princess Leanne." Ena offered her wriggling child to the heron princess.

Once Rajaion was in Leanne's hands, he stopped wriggling and looked up at the heron. Leanne smiled and began singing quietly to him. The others watched as Rajaion's eyes began drooping. Ena said, "Even if he falls asleep, he'll wake up within an hour. His sleeping schedule is unpredictable."

"That sounds much like Haar," Reyson muttered dryly. "Except you expect him to always be asleep."

The small group spoke quietly, telling each other facts that happened when they last saw each other. Mihara looked back towards the throng of laguz and beorc, all laughing and chattering excitedly. Apparantly, over the course of three years, the relationship had healed slightly, but Mihara knew it would be a long time before it vanished. The Hawk King's daughter caught sight of horse ears and tails and spotted Aislyn and Keenan. Keenan was busy speaking with Tibarn while Aislyn was talking with Rhys, who was standing beside her. She turned to Ranulf. "The Griel Mercenaries came?"

"Yeah. They arrived almost fashionably late. The great mastermind who got them here was Boyd. I asked how he was the one, but Mist just told me not to ask. ...Then she laughed. I think that's not very good." Ranulf's mischievous eyes turned toward Mihara. "Wanna go see them?"

Without even waiting for an answer, Ranulf grabbed Mihara's wrist and tugged her along, not noticing to give the dragons' and herons' wondering eyes watching them an explanation.

Elsewhere, Micaiah, with Sothe at her side, was scanning the crowd. She turned towards her husband. "I don't see them..."

"They're here, somewhere." Sothe, since he was taller than Micaiah, looked around for the two certain people they were trying to find. Then, he said triumphantly, "There! They're talking with Sanaki."

"Really? Let's go see them!"

Sothe held Micaiah's hand as he led her to Rafiel, Volug, and Nailah. Once Micaiah saw they were done talking, she gave Rafiel a large hug. "Rafiel! Lady Nailah! Volug!"

Rafiel smiled, returning the priestess' hug. "Micaiah! And Sothe, too! How have you been, my friends?"

While the five talked, Elincia was nearby, speaking with Mist about anything other than polictics and the rebellions. It seemed like such a peaceful night, free of worries.

XxXxXxX

"Lord Stasik! Lady Karoline! All the soldiers are suited up and ready to leave!"

A young man with short brown hair looked at the commanding soldier with dull, dark brown eyes. "The pegasi are all ready to go, as well?"

"Yes, sir!"

Stasik sighed, grabbing his bow and arrows. A younger woman with long black hair tied back in a braid and brown eyes waved the soldier off. "We will be leaving shortly. Make sure all the others are ready to leave on a moment's notice for Altiaire."

"Yes, ma'am!" The soldier ran from the room, bearing his sword as he bellowed orders.

Stasik began heading for the door. "This is so boring. No challenges, no good fights..."

"But, my brother, think of what awaits us in Altiaire!" Karoline took her older brother's arm. "The mighty Hawk King, Tibarn. Not to mention, it'll bring that fake little Empress to reality. It'll show her that small rebellion groups can become something great. We will attack the most peaceful country left on Tellius!"

The idea of fighting the Hawk King seemed to cheer Stasik up. "Three and a half hours of saddlesore will be worth it – as long as I can fight him."

Karoline looked at Stasik with an evil look. "And, you know...I hear that he's kept a daughter hidden secret for many years."

"A daughter, eh?"

"Yes, dear brother."

"Do you have your tomes, Karoline?"

"Of all kinds."

"Then, let's go hunting."

XxXxXxX

Thanks to Ranulf, Mihara had spoken to pretty much all of the war allies and the cat warriors' friends. She never thought Skrimir was very large in the game, but when she stood next to him...he was intimidating. She didn't exactly want to see him transform any time soon. Or a dragon, for that matter...

She hadn't seen Naesala again (if that had even been him). She knew that he had become a diplomat, but for what country? She was somewhat interested in meeting the former Raven King. However, as she and Ranulf had been speaking with Skrimir, Mihara saw Janaff and Ulki move quickly through the crowd towards their king. Mihara looked for a moment, seeing that her father's face had becomed distressed and somewhat angry. The hawk teen saw Skrimir's ears twitch, and he turned his head towards Tibarn and his right and left arms. Ranulf inquired, "What is it?"

"...Something's wrong," Skrimir bluntly said. "But I don't know what."

Just as the Lion King finished his sentence, they saw Micaiah and Sothe moving through the thinning crowd of people. She saw Skrimir and went over to him. "King Skrimir...something is about to happen."

"You have seen something?"

"Yes. I heard Yune. She sounded very upset. Something is about to come here," Micaiah lowered her voice, "and attack."

"Do you know who?" Ranulf's face became grave.

"No. All I could see were wings."

Skrimir growled in his throat. "Go and inform King Tibarn. He will need to know. We will keep our eyes open."

"Right."

As Micaiah practically jogged to the Hawk King, Sothe at her side, Skrimir told Ranulf, "Let's go and search the skies."

"Alright. Mihara, you come, too."

"Are-are you sure?" Mihara followed after the two laguz men.

"Yeah. Tibarn would slit our throats if anything happened to you, but don't worry. Ginia told me that Vlas was teaching you how to fight. I actually heard him comment on how fast you were picking up on things." Ranulf's tail twitched. "But we'll watch out for you."

"Okay. Thank you."

Once the three were a fair distance away from the party, they shifted to their full laguz forms. They headed out towards the plains of Altiaire and towards the mountains. As Mihara had thought: Skrimir was huge as a lion. She didn't want to fight him anytime. Then again, who knows? Maybe when I become stronger, I'll want to fight him, one-on-one- nooo! C'mon, Mihara! Focus! You're about to be attacked!

Suddenly, Ranulf and Skrimir came to a halt below her. She landed on the ground beside them. "What's wrong?" she inqured.

"I smell something. It smells like..." Ranulf frowned, trying to think. "The Holy Guard's pegasi."

"So there must be pegasi coming towards us. And whoever is on them is who we should be worried about." Skrimir looked up towards the sky, the starlight and moonlight shining enough light for Mihara to see.

"Still, they must've left a while ago since they'd have to be flying from the mainland. At least four hours ago. Maybe all this flying has worn them out."

There were two more sets of wings approaching them from behind. The three laguz turned and saw Janaff and Ulki, in full forms, coming towards them. Janaff said simply, "If they're heading this way, I'll see them first."

"Can you see enough?" Ranulf asked.

"Well enough, yes."

Silence befell the five, Janaff looking out in the distance, towards the mountains. He scanned the skies all around. "I smell them...but I don't see them."

"They can't have materialized," Ulki muttered. "Otherwise, you could see them."

"They can't hide themselves, either..."

"Wait..." Ulki turned more towards the southwest. "How about over there? That's where I hear the wings most."

Janaff turned towards where Ulki was looking and searched around in the skies. Finally, he squinted. "Yeah, I see them... There's two riding out in front – a man and a woman. Behind them are about..." Janaff's eyes widened a little. "Hmm...seventy-five at least."

"Only seventy-five?" Skrimir's lion face smirked. "We can take them."

"Hold on there, King Skrimir," Janaff droaned. "It looks like they've got plenty of arrows and tomes. I see more than a few fire tomes."

Skrimir seemed to stand taller. "I am not afraid of them."

"Skrimir, we should head back and warn Tibarn. Otherwise, we'd be taken them all on by ourselves for a while until someone heard all the commotion. In case you didn't realize," Ranulf gestured with a paw towards the faint lights in the distance, "we're a good ways away from them."

The Lion King thought a moment before sighing. "You are right. Let's go."

Without another word, the hawks and beasts made their way quickly towards the castle. When they arrived, they saw that the crowd of beorc and laguz were being herded into the castle, save for the old war allies and the laguz from the new tribes. They were all remaining in the courtyard, murmuring darkly amongst themselves. Tibarn approached them as they all shifted back to their half forms. "Any news?"

"They're coming. A fair number, but nothing we can't handle. They're well prepared." Janaff crossed his arms. "Tomes, arrows, and really good steel weapons."

"We will aid you," Keenan said, not offering.

Xavier nodded in agreement. "However," he glanced at Laurel and Adrian, "I would feel better if you two went into the castle."

"We can help them enough with our galdrar," Reyson assured them.

Laurel looked back and forth between them all. "Very well. Please be careful."

"Make sure everyone stays in the building, Lady Laurel."

"Of course."

As Laurel and Adrian made their way to the castle, Micaiah inquired, "Are they all flying?"

Janaff and Ulki nodded.

"Now would be a great time for Soren to be here," Boyd mumbled.

"We can manage fine without Soren," Mist protested.

"Am I simply forgotten here?" Bastian inquired loudly.

"No you're not, Bastian. You just need to aim for the pegasi," Lucia answered with amusement.

Rhys reminded, "We magic users can reach them, as long as they do not fly from our range."

"That's true," Boyd said. He looked at his younger brother, "Rolf, think you can hit them without Shinon here to help?"

"Of course!" Rolf looked offended.

"Just a simple question..." Rolf's middle brother glared at him.

"Okay, healers need to stay behind the main line." Tibarn then saw that the dragons were still standing outside. "Ena, you need to take your little one inside."

"Yes, you're right. I just wanted to hear what you're planning so that Nasir, Gareth, and I may warn your soldiers inside in case of the worst." Ena rocked the sobbing Rajaion in her arms.

"Well, we're going to charge at them head on. Sages and healers will need to stay behind the main fighters. Rolf looks like our only archer, so we'll need to keep him covered. Once these attackers see that he can shoot them down, they're more than likely to go after him." Tibarn glanced around at everyone. "We fliers can see if we can taunt them down so that you who fight on the ground can get them. Empress, would you like to join the others in the castle?"

"I...I don't want to diminish the numbers. I will help you fight," Sanaki said bravely.

Micaiah took her younger sister's hands. "Sanaki, we all know you don't like bloodshed. For that matter of fact, many of us don't like it, but you worst of all. If you were to even slighty falter, you could get hurt. Not all of us can keep you safe."

Sanaki gazed downward, the sixteen-year-old feeling ashamed. "You're right. I'll...go inside."

"Thank you, my little sister." Micaiah gave her an assuring smile.

Sigrun accompanied the apostle of Begnion inside the castle with the other guests from the party. When Mihara looked around, she didn't see Naesala anywhere. Maybe she had only imagined him. Tibarn then ordered, "Get ready. I can hear them now."

At that moment, all the laguz transformed and the beorc got their weapons ready. Obviously, none of them went anywhere without their weapons, Mihara mused. By the light of the fire, Mihara could see them approaching. She saw the gleaming white pegasi, as well as a few gray and black ones. She saw the light from the fire gleaming off the swords, lances, and axes that the beorc all wielded. They were a few hundred yards away before they all stopped moving forward. They didn't land but didn't attack, either. The bird laguz took off into the air, following Tibarn as he cautiously flew towards the two who were obviously the leaders. In turn, the woman and man flew towards them. They met halfway between their forces.

Tibarn, with anger in his voice, demanded, "Why have you come here?"

The man, Stasik, said, "Why, to put fear in the world, of course. Long ago, in the Mad King's War, our mother was slain. By your talons, Hawk King."

Not faltered by that piece of information, Tibarn asked, "And who was your mother?"

"General Petrine. Of Daein's Four Riders." Karoline narrowed her eyes.

What?! Petrine?! She had- has children?! But...Tibarn didn't fight in that battle in the game...

"So now you've formed these little rebels groups in order to get revenge?" Tibarn sounded bored at that idea.

"Indeed, we have. Not only will you perish, Hawk King, but so will your people," Karoline threatened.

Enraged by the threat (also by the memory of his people being slain in Pheonics), Tibarn screeched, "Then you will prepare to die!"

"Well, then. I believe this conversation is over. Good bye, King Tibarn."

The two rebel leaders flew back to their troops, Janaff and Ulki watching their backs as they all flew back to their war allies to make sure that Stasik and Karoline wouldn't pull any tricks. Once they were safely back, they heard the shouts of orders that Stasik was giving. Tibarn looked at his daughter as Janaff and Ulki informed the others of what Stasik and Karoline had said. "Mihara, are you sure you don't want to go to the castle?"

"No. I want to stay out here with you all." Mihara couldn't believe that she was saying that, but she also partially felt that way.

Keenan reared. "Let them come! We will destroy them!"

"General Petrine's children, huh?" Mia muttered. "They sure do take after their mother."

"Ranulf, may I request that you and Mihara guard Rolf?" Tibarn glanced back at the cat warrior.

"...Sure. We can do that." Ranulf bobbed his head, moving backwards.

There was a loud battle cry from the rebels, and they charged.

Pegasi moved a lot faster than Mihara thought, but as she remembered what Janaff had said to his troops, she realized they were also very clumsy compared to the hawks. In under a few seconds, there were clangs as swords met talons and as lances stabbed at those on the ground. Mihara's heart pounded, but she remembered all the battle skills Vlas had taught her. She felt that she could do this. Behind her, Rolf was firing arrow after arrow towards the pegasi, some evading, but some getting hit directly in their wings. Micaiah, Bastian, and Rhys were releasing as many magical attacks as they could, the three herons keeping them energized.

Skrimir jumped powerfully into the air, easily dragging the riders off their mounts, and sometimes even bringing the mounts with them. Once he had them grounded, Volug snapped his jaws at the rebel, crushing whatever part of the body he could. Just as Mihara saw Ulki dodge the magic of a wind attack, she saw someone headed for her. She remembered that even if she couldn't defeat the male on the back of the pegasus, Ranulf was there to back her up. She saw that the person only held a lance, so he wouldn't be a problem. Mihara beat her wings powerfully and rose swiftly into the air. The man stabbed at her, but Mihara move swiftly out of the way. While the man tried to reel his lance back in, Mihara snatched the end of it with her talons. The man pulled at it, trying to get it out of the hawk's grasp, but Mihara pulled harder, tugging the man off his mount. Once he was dangling in the air, screaming, Ranulf slashed at him with his claws after jumping up in the air. Mihara flew lower so that Ranulf could reach better, and once she heard the man's pleas silence, she tossed the lance behind her, past the herons and sages.

Mihara heard cries of pain, but she heard one from a voice she recognized. She turned her head and saw Aislyn bleeding from her side. She whinnied fiercely, ignored the pain, reared, and smashed an enemy's head in with her lethal hooves. She snorted as the blood ran down her side. Mihara was about to fly and aid her, but Rhys cried, "Miss Aislyn!"

There was a flash of light, and Aislyn's wound sealed. She turned towards Rhys, who had healed her with a physic. "Thank you!"

"Be careful!" he warned, returning to fighting with his light magic.

Every now and again, an enemy slipped by the front line of fighters, but Ranulf or Mihara would take them out. The hawk teen highly disliked how the blood would run down her talons. Never had she thought she would actually kill someone, and especially not in a 'video game world', but her life was being threatened, along with others. Enemy after enemy fell, and suddenly, those seventy-five warriors weren't seeming like very much. Their numbers were decreasing very quickly. They were not very well-trained, it seemed like. However, the leaders were. Once again, a sage on a pegasi got past Oscar, who had tried to throw a javelin at him, but had missed by mere inches. Hadrian had slashed at the pegasus with a claw, but the creature kicked his paw, wounding it enough so that Mist had to rush to Hadrian.

Mihara readied her talons to lunge at the sage, not even feeling frightened anymore. She had also thought that the laguz exaggerated, saying that once they got in battle, they lost control and couldn't see straight. But they weren't. Mihara felt excitement bubbling in her as she charged at the wind sage. However, his tome flipped open, and before Mihara knew it, sharp blows from the wind around her caused her to screech in pain befre hitting the ground. Behind her, Ranulf yowled with anger and jumped at the sage, digging his claws in. While Ranulf's back was turned and Mihara was still attempting to get up, feet landed beside Mihara. She looked over and flinched. An arrow was pointed directly at her skull. Out of the corner of her eyes, she saw Ranulf's eyes widened with fear, and Rolf had an arrow ready to fly, but he was obviously hesitating.

"One move...and this arrow lodges in her head," the archer warned.

Ranulf crouched down low, his claws still out, growling at the man. Within the blink of an eye, it seemed, Tibarn swooped down and grasped the bow with his talons and snapped the weapon into pieces. Before the man could flee, Tibarn grabbed him. He slowly said in a menacing voice, "Never threaten my family." Then, his talons plunged into the man's body. There wasn't even a scream before the man went limp. Tibarn tossed the body away with disgust. He landed on the ground. "Mihara, are you okay?"

"...Y-yeah, I'm fine."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. I'm fine, I swear. Look out-!"

Just as a fire sage was about to unleash his magic, Gatrie dug his lance into the man. Tibarn turned his head at the order that Stasik bellowed: "Retreat!"

They watched as the few remaining survivors fled for their lives, some injured and dripping blood from their wounds. All the laguz shifted back. Mist and Rhys called, "Is anyone hurt?!"

There were a few injuries, only two major, which had befallen Lucia and Janaff. They were quickly taken care of, though. The slightly wearied warriors gathered around as the people cautiously poked their heads out from the castle. "What now?" Elincia inquired.

"Now? Now we know that the rebels need to be dealt with. Soon. Because while they have access to that many pegasi, it means that nowhere on Tellius is safe now," Tibarn gravely answered.

XxXxXxX

Uh-ohhh. Tellius no safe no more.

Yes, Karoline and Stasik are Petrine's kids. There was a man alive who could tolerate a woman like THAT? Whew, I'd like to never meet him (even if I DID create him...). Yes, Tibarn never fought in the battle where you fought Petrine in the Mad King's War, but hey! If a video game world was real, I'm sure the game wasn't exactly on the dot! I mean, seriously.

Any ideas? Comments? Request? Please review!